Devotional manuscript in the vernacular likely written for Renée Hennequin, a nun of the Convent of the Filles-Dieu in Paris. In a contemporary binding, it includes a great many prayers, many unedited and otherwise unknown, all neatly transcribed and introduced by colorful calligraphic drawings. Further study of this manuscript promises to enrich our knowledge of vernacular spirituality of the Order of Fontevraud in France.

Provenance

1. Renée Hennequin : 'A soeur Renée Hennequin' on the lower pastedown. Renée Hennequin was certainly the first owner of the manuscript. She is most likely the sister of Aimar and Jérôme Hennequin, who were on the side of the Guise during the League (Ligue). They are sons of Dreux Hennequin and of Renée Nicolai. Aimar Hennequin became bishop of Rennes and officiated at the Cathedral of Paris during the siege. Jerome became counselor at the Parliament and then bishop of Soissons. Their brother, René Hennequin, brother-in-law of Michel de Marillac, was likewise a fervent Catholic, who stayed faithful to the royal power.

2. The Convent of the Filles-Dieu: on the upper flyleaf 'pour le couvent des Filles-Dieu de Paris.' Founded in 1226 by Saint Louis (1226-1270), the convent was taken over by the Order of Fontevraud in 1495. Thirty-four nuns remained at the moment of the Revolution, when they were dispersed, along with the rich library. The convent buildings were destroyed, and the rue du Caire was constructed on their site (see Cottineau, vol. 3, col. 2197).

3. Madame Le Masson (f. 307v).

4. G. R. Airth (ex-libris on the upper flyleaf).

Text

The text consists of prayers to accompany the liturgical offices and the feasts throughout the liturgical year. Several passages show that the prayers have been edited specifically for the convent of the Filles-Dieu.

The Convent of the Filles-Dieu was dependent of the Abbey of Fontevraud. One of the richest orders in France, the Fontevraud Order welcomed daughters from some of the most important families. For two centuries (from 1491 to 1670), the mother house was directed by abbesses from the Bourbon family. Our nun, Renée Hennequin, had the social stature comparable to that of the nuns admitted into the Order. Reading and prayer were central occupations in the daily life of the nuns. Any surviving manuscript that can throw light on the devotional practices of the Order is important, because the famous shipwreck of books from the rich library of Fontevraud means that contemporary documentation is scarce.